English Literature MCQ

1786. In the Middle Ages, nuns also performed which of the following roles?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) All of the Above

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Nuns in the Middle Ages contributed to education, literature, and religious activities.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the multifaceted roles of nuns beyond religious duties.

Explanations: Nuns in the Middle Ages often served as teachers, instructing in religious and basic subjects. They acted as scribes, copying religious texts and literature. Additionally, some authored works, including religious treatises and literature. Thus, all roles are accurate.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Nuns taught, but this was not their only role.
Option B: Nuns were scribes, but this was part of a broader contribution.
Option C: Nuns authored works, but this was not their sole activity.
Option D: Correctly identifies all roles nuns performed.

Mnemonic: Nuns Were T.S.A. (Teachers, Scribes, Authors)

1787. Which of the following is not a dramatist?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Byron

Exam Relevance: GCSE English Literature, A-Level English Literature

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: The question tests the ability to identify dramatists among literary figures.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing Byron's role as a poet with that of a dramatist.

Explanations: George Gordon Byron was a renowned poet, not a dramatist. Ben Jonson and T.S. Eliot are known for their contributions to drama.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Ben Jonson was a notable dramatist.
Option B: Byron was a poet, not a dramatist.
Option C: Eliot wrote plays, making him a dramatist.
Option D: Incorrect, as Byron is not a dramatist.

1788. Edgar disguises himself as a.....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Beggar.

Exam Relevance: SAT Subject Test in Literature, AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of character disguises in Shakespeare's "King Lear."

Common Mistakes: Students might confuse Edgar's disguise with other characters' roles in the play.

Explanations: Edgar disguises himself as a beggar to hide his identity and avoid detection. This disguise allows him to move freely and gather information without being recognized.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Edgar disguises himself as a beggar.
Option B: Incorrect. There is no evidence that Edgar becomes an archer.
Option C: Incorrect. Edgar does not take on the role of a trader.
Option D: Incorrect. Edgar is not disguised as a wrestler.

Mnemonic: Beggar in the Play, Edgar's Disguise

1789. The function of a critic, according to Coleridge is

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) To appreciate and interpret.

Exam Relevance: GRE Subject Test in Literature, Cambridge English Literature exams

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Samuel Taylor Coleridge emphasized that a critic's role is to appreciate and interpret literary works, focusing on understanding their deeper meanings and contexts.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the critic's role as solely evaluative rather than interpretative and appreciative.

Explanations: Coleridge's view of a critic involves both appreciation, which means valuing the work's merits, and interpretation, which involves analyzing its meaning and context. This dual function ensures a comprehensive understanding of the literary piece.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect because it focuses on judging rather than appreciating.
Option B: Correct as it aligns with Coleridge's emphasis on appreciation and interpretation.
Option C: Incorrect because it emphasizes evaluation over appreciation and interpretation.
Option D: Incorrect because the correct answer is provided in option B.

Mnemonic: A Critic Appreciates and Interprets

1790. In Act I, Lord and Lady Capulet want Juliet to marry

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Paris

Exam Relevance: SAT Literature Subject Test, AP English Literature and Composition Exam

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The play establishes early on that Lord Capulet is considering Paris as a suitor for Juliet.

Common Mistakes: Students might confuse Paris with Romeo, thinking he is the intended suitor, but Romeo is from the rival family.

Explanations: In Act I, Lord Capulet discusses Juliet's potential marriage with Paris, indicating his approval of the match. This is evident when Capulet says, "My child is yet a stranger in the world; she hath not seen the change of fourteen years," showing his readiness to marry her off.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Romeo is from the Montague family, the rival of the Capulets, so he is not a suitor Lord Capulet would approve of.
Option B: Tybalt is Juliet's cousin, not a suitor, and is hostile towards Romeo.
Option C: Paris is a nobleman and a suitor approved by Lord Capulet.
Option D: Mercutio is a friend of Romeo and not a suitor.

1791. Hemingway also worked as a:

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) Driver

Exam Relevance: None

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of Hemingway's职业 outside of writing.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing Hemingway's职业 with other creative or technical fields.

Explanations: Hemingway worked as a driver before becoming a full-time writer. This is a factual detail about his early career.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Hemingway did not work as a carpenter. This is a misconception.
Option B: Hemingway was not a painter.
Option C: Hemingway did not work as a surgeon.
Option D: Hemingway worked as a driver, which is correct.

1792. William Blake's "Songs of Innocence and Experience" explores .....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) The loss of childhood and discovery of the adult world.

Exam Relevance: GCSE English Literature, A-Level English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: William Blake's "Songs of Innocence and Experience" contrasts the perspectives of innocence and experience, exploring themes such as childhood loss and the transition to adulthood.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the themes as autobiographical or focusing on historical events.

Explanations: Blake's collection contrasts the innocence of childhood with the harsh realities of adulthood, illustrating the loss of innocence and the discovery of the adult world.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct, as it captures the central theme of innocence lost and experience gained.
Option B: Incorrect, as it refers to Milton's "Paradise Lost," not Blake's work.
Option C: Incorrect, as the poems are not autobiographical.
Option D: Incorrect, as the focus is not on London's history.

Mnemonic: Innocence to Experience: Growing Up

1793. Edmund Burke's "Reflections on the French Revolution" .....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Attacks the ideals of the French Revolution.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature Exam

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Edmund Burke's "Reflections on the French Revolution" critiques the radical changes brought by the revolution, emphasizing the importance of tradition and gradual reform.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is thinking Burke supported the revolution due to its progressive ideals, but he was a conservative thinker who opposed its radicalism.

Explanations: Edmund Burke's "Reflections on the French Revolution" is a critique of the revolution, arguing against its radical changes and the destruction of tradition. Burke, a conservative thinker, believed in the importance of established institutions and gradual reform rather than the upheaval caused by the revolution.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect. Burke opposed the revolution, so he did not celebrate it.
Option B: Incorrect. Burke did not encourage support for the revolution; he criticized it.
Option C: Correct. Burke's work attacks the ideals of the revolution, emphasizing tradition and order.
Option D: Incorrect. Burke's work predates Napoleon and does not champion his vision.

Mnemonic: Burke's Reflections: Revolution's Critique

1794. The first part of the Dorian Ode in which the dancers moved from the right to the left is called

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Strophe.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The Dorian Ode structure includes strophe, antistrophe, and epode, with strophe involving movement from right to left.

Common Mistakes: Confusing strophe with other poetic terms like caesura or mythos.

Explanations: In the Dorian Ode, the strophe is the first section where dancers move from the right to the left. This term is specific to the structure of certain odes and is essential in understanding their form.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Strophe refers to the first part of the Dorian Ode where dancers move from right to left.
Option B: Incorrect. "Stop" is not a term used in the context of the Dorian Ode structure.
Option C: Incorrect. "Caesura" refers to a pause in a line of poetry, unrelated to dance movements.
Option D: Incorrect. "Mythos" refers to a narrative or theme, not a structural part of the Ode.

Mnemonic: Strophe: Step Right to Left.

1795. Who invented the term 'Sprung rhythm'?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Hopkins.

Exam Relevance: AQA GCSE English Literature, Cambridge IGCSE English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: 'Sprung rhythm' is a poetic technique characterized by varying stress patterns, introduced by Gerard Manley Hopkins.

Common Mistakes: Confusion may arise between Hopkins and other Victorian poets like Tennyson or Browning, who are also known for their poetic innovations.

Explanations: Gerard Manley Hopkins invented 'Sprung rhythm' to create a more natural and flexible poetic meter. This technique contrasts with traditional iambic pentameter by allowing varying stress patterns, which Hopkins believed better reflected the natural cadences of speech and thought.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Gerard Manley Hopkins introduced 'Sprung rhythm' in his poetry.
Option B: Incorrect. Alfred Lord Tennyson is known for his use of traditional poetic forms and is not associated with 'Sprung rhythm'.
Option C: Incorrect. Robert Browning is famous for his dramatic monologues and not for inventing 'Sprung rhythm'.
Option D: Incorrect. William Wordsworth is a Romantic poet known for his nature poetry and is not linked to 'Sprung rhythm'.

Mnemonic: Hopkins Hopped with Sprung Rhythm

1796. 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles' is a novel written by -

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Thomas Hardy.

Exam Relevance: None

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests the ability to identify the author of a specific novel.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake could be confusing Thomas Hardy with other Victorian novelists.

Explanations: 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles' is a well-known novel by Thomas Hardy, set in the fictional region of Wessex. It explores themes of tragedy, fate, and social class.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Thomas Hardy wrote 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles'.
Option B: Incorrect. John Stuart Mill was a philosopher and economist, not a novelist.
Option C: Incorrect. Charles Dickens wrote works like 'Oliver Twist' and 'Great Expectations', not 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles'.
Option D: Incorrect. Emily Bronte wrote 'Wuthering Heights', not 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles'.

1797. The University Wits were:

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Playwrights.

Exam Relevance: AQA GCSE English Literature, Cambridge IGCSE English Literature

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The University Wits were a group of playwrights associated with Oxford and Cambridge universities.

Common Mistakes: Confusing their role with poets or novelists.

Explanations: The University Wits were primarily playwrights, contributing to Elizabethan and Jacobean drama. They were not known for poetry or novel writing.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect; they were not primarily poets.
Option B: Correct; they were playwrights.
Option C: Incorrect; novelists emerged later.
Option D: Incorrect; they were playwrights.

Mnemonic: "Wits Write Plays"

1798. Byron's journey to Spain, Malta, Albania and Greece resulted in the production of the first two cantos of his poem:

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Childe Herald's Pilgrimage.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature, Cambridge IGCSE English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of Lord Byron's works and their inspirations.

Common Mistakes: Confusing "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage" with Byron's other works like "Don Juan" or "Cain."

Explanations: Lord Byron's travels to Spain, Malta, Albania, and Greece directly influenced the creation of the first two cantos of "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage." This poem is an autobiographical account of Byron's own travels and experiences, making it the correct answer.

Option Analysis:

Option A: "Cain" is a play, not a poem about travel.
Option B: Correct. "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage" reflects Byron's travels.
Option C: "Don Juan" is a satirical epic, unrelated to Byron's travels.
Option D: "The Prisoner of Chillon" is about a historical figure, not Byron's travels.

Mnemonic: "Childe Harold's travels match Byron's own."

1799. Iago shows of Desdemona to Othello to prove that Desdemona was unfaithful.

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) A handkerchief.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The handkerchief is a crucial symbol in Shakespeare's "Othello," used by Iago to manipulate Othello into believing Desdemona's infidelity.

Common Mistakes: Students might confuse the handkerchief with other items mentioned in the play, such as gifts or tokens, but only the handkerchief is used as evidence of Desdemona's supposed unfaithfulness.

Explanations: In "Othello," Iago plants a handkerchief, which Othello had given to Desdemona as a symbol of his love and trust, in Cassio's possession. Othello discovers this and believes Desdemona is unfaithful, leading to tragic consequences. The handkerchief serves as a key plot device to drive the jealousy and suspicion in the play.

Option Analysis:

Option A: A dress is not mentioned in the play as evidence of Desdemona's infidelity.
Option B: A handkerchief is the correct item used by Iago to falsely accuse Desdemona.
Option C: A comb is not referenced in the context of Desdemona's supposed unfaithfulness.
Option D: A necklace is not used as evidence in the play.

Mnemonic: Handkerchief hints at heartbreak.

1800. What is the main criticism of marriage in Restoration drama?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Marriages are not based upon love or mutual respect but upon financial gain.

Exam Relevance: AQA GCSE English Literature, Edexcel A Level English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Restoration drama critiques marriage as a transaction driven by financial interests rather than emotional bonds.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the primary focus on financial motives over other social issues.

Explanations: Restoration plays often depict marriages arranged for economic benefit, highlighting the critique of loveless unions for financial gain.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Boredom is a minor theme, not the main criticism.
Option B: Age disparity exists but is not the central issue.
Option C: Financial motives are the primary critique of marriage.
Option D: Gambling and drinking are not central themes in marriage criticism.

Mnemonic: Money over Love in Marriage

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10 thoughts on “English Literature MCQ - Set 120”

Mani January 4, 2020
You’re might me mistaken For this which poet called himself ” I awake one morning and found myself famous” The Answer is Shelley.
I think u might me mistaken
Anwar Ahmad January 4, 2020
Nice efforts
Anwar Ahmad January 6, 2020
Good practice method
Narinder Singh March 26, 2020
I need objective type questions
Anonymous June 3, 2020
Good practise method
Anonymous September 19, 2020
Lord Byron
Susil October 17, 2020
Great information. I like it.
Anonymous February 2, 2021
Byron
Anonymous September 12, 2021
Lord byron
Lucky November 19, 2022
very nice . its very usefull for us

10 thoughts on “English Literature MCQ - Set 120”

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